Tuesday, December 31, 2013

5 Months Old- Happy New Year!






     Woah. Lucy is FIVE months old today! Time is going by way too quickly. I am often sad when I think of how quickly she is growing. Of course I love that she's developing and growing as a healthy little one should but I'm still sad to see the itty bitty days behind us.
     So much has been going on since the last update I was able to do. We've celebrated her first Thanksgiving, First Christmas and now we are celebrating her first New Year! She's growing by the second and weighs in at 15lbs now. She's very tall for her age too, tall and skinny like her daddy. She's rolling over from her back to to her tummy, and grabbing objects when they are in front of her. Her favorite thing to do though is smile and giggle! As long as I am holding her that is. If anybody else tries to hold her...well...it usually doesn't go over well with her.
     She is a velcro baby to the extreme. I never thought I would end up as an "attatchement parent" persay but I'm somehow found myself sleeping with a Lucy snuggled up next to me in bed and hardly ever putting her down during the day. If I dare set her down I had better be prepared to hear screaming until I pick her back up. I know she will eventually grow out of this (I hope) but it can be frustrating. The hardest part is not giving Roxas all the attention I know he needs. Sometimes I just have to make Lucy bite the bullet and spend a little time in a bouncer or swing or crib while I take care of Roxas or do the dishes or laundry or you know...shower once every few weeks. Seriously...I think I set a record this year.
     I love her to bits though and even when she's on my very last nerve, and the dishes in the sink are giving me anxiety. Roxas has been such a trooper with her. He's very understanding of when I can't just hop up and fill his snack cup because Lucy isn't done eating. I still hate to have to put his wants and needs below Lucy's though.
     Roxas is just becoming such a little man now too. Oh my goodness. He talks NON-STOP! He has his own little language and we've been able to decipher several words. So far he says "bop-bop for grandpa, horsey, fishey, kitty, Lucy (or sissy), grandma, GG (great grandma), fry, no, open (but it's said Oh-na), more, off, on, and the best one so far is his first curse word. It starts with a "D" and ends with "it". I have to take credit on that one. I really don't curse a whole lot but I have to own up to using that word quite a bit. If I drop something, hit my toe, or otherwise get frustrated that's typically the first word out of my mouth. I'm much more careful about what I say now.
     Anyways our little family has changed so much in this past year and as we sit here ready to ring in the new year I've thought back over all that has happened and I'm excited to start this new year. This past year I finished my second semester of nursing school with an "A" and we welcomed our second (EEP!) baby into the world. I lost a dear loved one, my second mom Sherry, but was blessed with a new little nephew Coltin. This past year has been full of ups and downs but thanks to my amazing family, friends and classmates I've made it through without too many nervous breakdowns. The year to come will be full of challenges, especially financially, but we will make it work somehow...we always do. Plus in December of 2014 I will be graduating nursing school! I can't wait for that day, but knowing the next semester is looming over my head has been stressing me out quite a lot.

    With 2014 nearly here I want to wish everybody a happy and wonderful new year. May it be blessed beyond your wildest dreams!











Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Trying To Go Green: Kushy Tooshy Cloth Diaper Review & Giveaway 3 winners!

Trying To Go Green: Kushy Tooshy Cloth Diaper Review & Giveaway 3 winners!

It's been awhile

Hello old friends.

I began writing this post back in the beginning of December and well now it's almost Christmas! I have been so busy just being wrapped up in life anymore I rarely get the chance to sit and type out my thoughts anymore. I'm actually doing this on my phone now. So I apologize for any odd typos that I miss.

Since my last update Lucy celebrated her first Thanksgiving which was great. Just thinking about how last year we were sharing the big news that she was on her way boggles my mind. These kiddos are growing up so fast. Lucy is almost 5 no the old and Roxas is a few months away from turning 2. Where did all that time go?!

Lucy is growing by the minute. At her 4 month check up her height was right off the chart and she weighed 15 pounds! Roxas is a little tank. Seriously, he's solid boy.

He's picking up all kinds of new words and learning all kinds of new thing's. He amazes me on a daily basis. Although he is at that stage where he will mimic anything and everything I do so I have to be very conscious of what I'm doing. He is an amazing big brother to Lucy and it always making sure she is happy. He is definitely becoming a little toddler though. Oh boy, the fits he can throw and the things that upset him are amazing. He will get mad and frustrated so easily. I feel for him because I know he just can't even process things right now but it's still unbelievably annoying when he throws a toy at me or throws himself on the ground in the store.

Lucy is one high maintenance diva. She really doesn't like anybody but me holding her and she really really doesn't like being set down. So I get hardly anything done simply because I can't put her down unless I want to hear her scream endlessly. Sometimes it is a necessary evil to get stuff accomplished but foe the most part she spends her days in my arms. She still nurses about every 2 hours and isn't a huge fan of sleep. I typically go to bed around 3am and get up around 8 now.

She is such a puzzling baby. I kind of feel like a new mom all over again because we never dealt with these things with Roxas. Roxas responded well to crying it out, which for the record I won't so until at least 6 months, but Lucy will scream for an hour or more. Yes I have tested the theory because I had to hear her scream the entire drive back from the hualapai mountains. She doesn't stop. Plus I don't really like it, it just doesn't feel right for her, it felt ok with Roxas but not with Lucy. She is also very adverse to sleeping anywhere but in my arms. She is actually asleep in my arms after nursing right now. I've broken down several times and just let her sleep in the bed next to me. She sleeps wonderfully when I let her do that. I never thought I would be a bed sharing mommy but I needed the sleep, bad.

She is a demanding baby and wants what she wants or else. It can push ny nerves to the limit sometimes but she is so darn cute it makes up for it all.

So we are coming up on Christmas and it doesn't even feel like it for me. I'm so stressed out about the upcoming semester of school it has just sucked the fun right out of it. We have chosen not to do Santa either so that little bit of magic is missing for me. I'm sure it will be lots of fun but right now I'm just dreading it more than looking forward to it. On top of it all I'm coming down with yet another cold. Hopefully it will move on by Christmas.

Well that's mostly it for now. Hopefully I won't take so long to write a new update.

Until next time....

Friday, December 6, 2013

The Good Husband (and dad)

It's been a busy few days but I'm finally getting around to the part 2 of my previous post. Yeah dads you're not getting off the hook either!

So you liked this girl, you courted her, married her and now you helped make her a mother. She's been your crush, your girlfriend, and your wife but now she is not only your wife but the mother of your children. You have wandered into uncharted territory. You're a new dad.

Even if this isn't your first baby it never hurts to be reminded how to help be the best husband you can be to your wife as you both take on parenthood and navigate its murky waters without being eaten by an alligator.

1. Don't try to understand.
You have never experienced the wrath of estrogen and progesterone, well not first hand anyways. If you have, well you may need to be checked by a doctor. These two hormones go nuts after a baby, they have some friends like oxytocin that mix it up too, oh and the sleep deprivation doesn't help. Don't try to wrap your head around why she is crying because you bought the wrong paper towels. Just accept it for what it is: she's feeling upset. She probably doesn't even know why she feels certain ways. Instead of trying to understand, work on finding out what can help, if anything. Whether that's a hug, a pint of ice cream, or the right kind of paper towels. Don't worry, the hormones will settle down and you'll have your wife back soon. Please, if you think your wife has more than a little baby blues call a doctor right away. Excessive sadness is not normal.

2. Offer help.
She's probably exhausted, frazzled and overwhelmed. Offer to help, or better yet just jump in. Dishes in the sink? Wash' em! Layers of dust on the mantle? Get the pledge! Has she been eating and drinking enough? Offer to make lunch or bring her a glass of water. Remember she just grew a human being and birthed it and now she is trying to recover. It's very traumatic and caring for a newborn on top of it is just flat out crazy. No, you don't have to feed her grapes and fan her with palm fronds but just be aware. She needs help and probably (if she's like me) won't ever ask. You're part of a team now.

3. Encourage her.
You are your wife's biggest cheerleader. Encourage her and remind her she is doing a great job. I know many new mothers feel like they are falling flat on their face. She is probably questioning every single thing she is doing. There is insane pressure on her and she needs to know you think she's doing great. To just hear "you're a great mom" or "you're doing really great with this mom thing." can make her day and give that vital boost of confidence. I know you probably don't realize it but she needs that encouragement.

4. See her as a wife again
Sure she might be wearing a pair of stained yoga pants, a shirt adorned with spit up and possibly unshowered, but she's still your wife. Remind her you love her. Whether it's asking her on a date or just telling her she looks pretty. Remind her she still has a husband who sees a wife not just a mom. Remember how you tried so hard to woo her when you were dating? Do that again. Make her feel loved for being her, not necessarily because she is a mom.

5. Take an interest in the baby
You would think this is pretty self explanatory but I've talked to a lot of friends who say they wish their husbands were more involved with the new baby. I know you probably feel like you are kind of useless. That mom is all baby wants and needs. Nope. Get in there! Rock the baby, feed the baby, read to the baby, change the baby, bathe the baby, change the baby. Seeing you interact and love on your new babe will no doubt make her heart swell with love for both of you. Thanks oxytocin!

So, having a new mom as a wife can be hard. It can be a challenge to figure out what exactly your role is as husband/new dad. Don't worry and just go with the flow. Use your instincts and everything will be fine. Remember why you fell in love in the first place and repeat it to yourself every day.